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Udenta urges Tinubu to mitigate more violent protests with critical economic changes

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Udenta O. Udenta

***Reduce food prices, inflation, make PMS affordable
***Reshuffle Cabinet to involve opposition figures

President Bola Tinubu should expect more hunger protests higher in intensity and range than the just concluded ones unless significant economic changes occur, such as reducing food prices and inflation the founding National Secretary of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Professor Udenta O. Udenra has advised.
He gave the indication in a statement he issued in Abuja on Thursday that highlighted three critical national issues: the End-Hunger Protests, the overall State of the Nation, and Hon Yakubu Dogara’s controversial remarks that could incite violence.
He further adviced the president to reverse Naira depreciation and to make the prices of petroleum products to be within the reach of the people
Hereiterated the fact that widespread hunger and poverty are pervasive across Nigerian society, affecting nearly all but a small elite.
Udenra acknowledged that while President Bola Tinubu has recognized the people’s struggles, unless action is taken, social instability and mass mobilization will continue.
“President Bola Tinubu’s national broadest may not have met the expectations of large segments of society but give him credit for admitting that the people are hurting and he hears their cry, loud and clear. “But so long as they continue to cry with no end in sight expect social instability, mass mobilization, regime demonization and national fault lines tearing apart rapidly, no matter the forces that are deployed to contain them.
“As the saying goes, he or she who is already on the ground indeed fears no fall.”
He stated that peaceful protests are a constitutional right and essential for democracy, but organizers must ensure that their actions remain civil and non-violent.
He also addressed the notable absence of the Igbo community in the recent protests, suggesting that their historical experiences and fears of harsher treatment have led to their non-participation.
He called for dialogue to reintegrate the Igbo into national discussions about the country’s future.
Udenra concluded that without addressing the underlying political issues, economic solutions would be ineffective.
He posited that until the political framework improves, the economic challenges will persist, criticizing Tinubu’s government for its failure in this regard.

The current state of the nation is characterized by economic difficulties, widespread hunger, and high levels of poverty, attributed to the Bola Tinubu administration’s inability to effectively manage the political landscape.
He said, there is a noticeable lack of consensus among the political elite, leading to a weakened power base for Tinubu compared to his initial ascent to power.

“His attempts to implement policy reforms without engaging political elites are seen as a significant miscalculation, as these policies fail to gain traction without their support.

To rectify the situation, he suggested that President Tinubu convene a meeting with prominent political figures, including opposition from other parties, to foster cooperation and rebuild trust.

Additionally, he asked the President to consider restructuring his cabinet to include opposition members and establish a council focusing on civil society relations.
Implementing these recommendations, Udenta said, could help create a more cohesive political environment and enhance the effectiveness of governance in addressing the nation’s challenges.
He also recommended engaging with key civil society leaders to ensure their concerns are integrated into government policies.
The statement discussed the troubling language and divisive rhetoric employed by Hon Dogara, a former Speaker of the House, particularly in his remarks against Gov Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
Undenta warned the political class about the implications of their words during a time of political division, stating that such language contributes to societal unrest.
He criticized Dogara for using offensive terms and for claiming that President Bola Tinubu influenced the judiciary to favor Gov Mohammed. This accusation is deemed reckless, especially in a fragile democracy.
He also expressed concern about the broader political climate in Nigeria, highlighting issues of misgovernance, poverty, insecurity, and a lack of trust in political leaders.
He called for genuine responsiveness from the government to the needs of the people and urged Nigerian Patriots to stay vigilant, emphasizing the need for constructive discourse rather than hate-filled rhetoric.

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Edo Governor Joins National Economic Deliberations

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Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, attended his inaugural National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday at the State House Council Chambers in Abuja.
The session was presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The NEC serves as a vital forum for state governors, deputy governors, and the federal government’s economic team to discuss and address key economic challenges.

In a gesture to mark his first appearance, Governor Okpebholo was invited by Vice President Shettima to lead the opening prayer after the national anthem.

This event underscores Edo State’s active commitment to collaborating on national economic policies and driving solutions for Nigeria’s progress.

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At Achebe Forum, Obasanjo Labels Nigeria a ‘Failing State’ Criticizes Tinubu’s Leadership

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Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed sharp criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that Nigeria’s decline is now evident to “every honest observer.”
Speaking at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum at Yale University in the U.S., Obasanjo attributed the country’s deteriorating state to leadership failure, pointing specifically to Tinubu’s governance, which he referred to as “Baba-go-slow and Emilokan.”

In his keynote address titled “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria,” Obasanjo highlighted that pervasive corruption and mismanagement have worsened Nigeria’s challenges, driving the country deeper into insecurity, division, and underdevelopment.
He quoted the late writer Chinua Achebe, who in his book The Trouble with Nigeria argued that the country’s fundamental problem is a failure of leadership, not a flaw in its people or resources. According to Obasanjo, this diagnosis remains as relevant today as it was over 40 years ago.

Obasanjo cited works by American experts Robert Rotberg and John Campbell, who have characterized Nigeria as a “failed state.” Their argument, he noted, suggests that Nigeria’s inability to maintain security and stability has serious implications for Africa and the world at large.

Additionally, the former President described “state capture” as a pressing issue in Nigeria, where powerful individuals and groups exploit government resources and policies for personal gain. Obasanjo argued that this corruption undermines national interests, with influential elites shaping the country’s legal and economic systems to benefit themselves. Such practices, he warned, compromise public welfare, affecting the quality of education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

In reflecting on Achebe’s legacy, Obasanjo praised the late author’s commitment to truth and the moral foundation he established for Nigeria. He urged Nigerians and the international community to recognize the dangers of state capture and work towards restoring a governance model that prioritizes the public good.

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Sule Lamido, Shehu sani disagree over National Security Adviser

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Shehu Sani and Sule Lamido

The senator who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, Shehu Sani has disagreed with a former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido over national security issues
Lamido had taken a strong position against the current National Security Advisor (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu accusing him of compromising his professional integrity and acting more like a spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu than fulfilling his constitutional role.
Sani advised Lamido to at least appreciate how the Tinubu led Administration tackled insecurity instead of politicizing it in his comment on the National Security Adviser.
Ribadu who was basking in the euphoria of the recent claims of decimating the insurgents cautioned anyone “not to dare Tinubu”, espercially the new Lakurawa Insurgents a development which infuriated the former governor of Jigawa State and a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP), prompting him to take to his verified facebook wall to describe the NSA as “loquacious, flippant and qualified to have been Tinubu’s Minsiter of Information instead of NSA.”
Lamido Criticizes NSA for Sycophantic Behavior, Urges Focus on Duties.
Lamido in his comment had expressed concerns over the NSA’s behavior, particularly his past actions as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under President Olusegun Obasanjo. Lamido reminded Nigerians of the NSA’s controversial remarks, including his public labeling of prominent governors—such as Tinubu, Kalu, and Akume—as the “most corrupt.” Lamido pointed out the stark contradiction between the NSA’s earlier criticisms and his current position, serving under the same figures he once condemned.

The former governor called the NSA’s decision to join the administration of President Tinubu—a leader he previously described as corrupt—a “singular mistake,” one that Lamido believes has tarnished the NSA’s credibility and character. “You are not a spokesperson for the President, you are a National Security Advisor,” Lamido emphasized, urging the NSA to return to the professionalism that has historically defined the role.

Lamido argued that previous holders of the NSA position, including the late Umaru Shinkafi, General Gusau, and Colonel Dasuki, all displayed discipline and a low profile, focusing on security matters without resorting to public displays or sycophantic behavior. Lamido lamented that the current NSA’s behavior reflects a departure from this standard, pointing to his increasingly vocal and partisan approach.

Rather than fulfilling his duties as an anonymous and diligent security advisor, Lamido claimed that the NSA’s moral dilemma and excessive displays of loyalty to the president have shifted him into the role of a “Minister of Information,” undermining the neutrality and importance of his position.

In closing, Lamido urged President Tinubu to allow his NSA to regain focus, remove his fears, and return to the professional standards expected of someone in such a sensitive and critical role. The criticism continued to ignite debates about the role of the NSA and the expectations of public office holders in Nigeria, with many calling for greater transparency and consistency from those in power.
Reacting, Shehu Sani countered Lamido in a statement on Friday in Abuja, saying there should be a credit and a commendation for an administration that inherited multi-faceted security challenges ,but which has been reduced to the barest minimum, wondering how the elderly statesman failed to acknowledge the many triumphs of government in bandits hotbed regions in the north.

Sani who served in the upper legislative Chamber in the 8th National Assembly said, he witnessed to the appropriation budget allocated to security which unfortunately did not abate security challenges before now, expressing that Nuhu Ribadu has achieved what many of his predecessors have failed to accomplish despite the hundreds of billions spent in the name of defence and security in the past;

According to him, bandits have been neutralized to a large extent, thus encouraging government in this direction until total victory should have been ideal rather than playing haywire politics which he said may not help the yet-volatile situation in the North.

He said: “Neutralisation of top bandit leaders, end to mass abductions of students in northern schools,

“Securing rail lines and major northern highways hitherto notorious for kidnappings. The prompt response to terrorist attacks on power lines is worth mentioning.

“Security challenges are not over but in all indices of comparison, he has performed better and set unprecedented records. His political critics are fully entitled to their views ,but his delivery on his mandate is unparalleled.”, Sani concluded.

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